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e are looking at further methods of trying to encourage the Vietnamese Authorities to
reduce the number coming to Hong Kong cr seeking asylum by sea, hopefully reducing it
to zero. I might add that in this connection the British Government is urgently
consulting other governments and the UNHCR on how thie might be achieved.
Mr. Charles Yeung
Sir, as a matter of clarification may I refer to the question of Miss Dunn which says'
would the Government agree that Hong Kong's willingness to accept all Vietnamese on
arrival, regardless of doubts as to their status as refugees' and answer to it is
'yes, Sir', so that I think 'yse, Sir' refers to that status of non-refugees coming
to Hong Kong.
1
Secretary for Security
Sir, if my honourable Friend's statement can be interpreted as a question I would now
like to put in a reservation as regards my 'yes, Sir'. I was giving a general answer to
a general point. There is no doubt in terms of the United Nations' definition of refugee
that these people are refugees. If there are any doubts, they are doubts in our minds
frankly as to whether they are fleeing from persecution or simply coming here seeking
the economic life, but they still accord with the United Nations' definition.
1:|:ཀའི གན བ an e;
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